Cow power

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky (AP) — It’s cow power. That’s the experiment at Western Kentucky University.

A local newspaper (The Daily News) reports the school is trying to develop a cost-effective way to use cow manure to create electricity. The methane gas from the cow you-know-what will be used to power a generator. Researchers say the technology would also help to reduce the stink from manure piles.

It’s hoped cow power someday will be used by farmers to help cut the costs of electricity for everything from greenhouses to milking machines.

Where’s the beef?

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (AP) — Where’s the beef? It was under Mark Zachary’s shirt. He’s gotten the maximum 10-year sentence for stealing an $80 slab of meat.

Last week, jurors in Orangeburg, South Carolina found him guilty of shoplifting. But Zachary claims he was doing nothing of the sort. The Times and Democrat newspaper reports Zachary testified he was “massaging” the meat — not stealing it.

‘No pants day’

NEW YORK, USA (AP) — No pants? No problem — at least for a day on the New York City subway. Sunday was the ninth annual No Pants Subway Ride.

Hundreds of strap-hangers stripped down to their skivvies, for a bit of subterranean street theatre.

Many of the guys wore boxers, while the women had on bikini-style undies. The fully-clothed riders seemed to take their fellow no-pants passengers in stride. But Dawn Young says the pants-less riders at the 96th street station looked chilly.

‘You Brew’

FORT COLLINS, Colorado (AP) — Just call it You Brew. A new brewery is coming to Fort Collins, Colorado. Owners Colin and Shannon Westcott will not only make beer — they’ll encourage customers to brew their own, too.

The Equinox Brewing Co is set to open April 1, next to a brewing and wine-making supply store also owned by the Westcotts. In the new brew pub, the Westcotts say they’ll give customers a card that details how the beer they’re drinking is made.

Colin tells the Coloradan newspaper he’s always been very open about sharing brew recipes.

On velvet

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin have portraits of everyone from Abraham Lincoln to a nearly nude Anderson Cooper. And they’re all painted on velvet.

For the past four years, the couple has been sharing their collection of velvet paintings at the Velveteria museum in Portland. But time is running out to see Honest Abe or Michael Jackson on black velvet.

The museum is closing Jan. 24. The couple is moving to Southern California. They tell The Oregonian newspaper they hope to eventually reopen there.